Group of Experts

BACKGROUND

This page contains information on the mandate, structure and activities of the Amended Protocol II Group of Experts - an informal implementation mechanism established by the Tenth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II (Geneva, 12 November 2008), as stipulated in paragraphs 23 and 24 of its Final Document, CCW/AP.II/CONF.10/2, as follows:

"[T]o establish an informal open-ended Group of Experts.

[...] The work of the Group of Experts shall be considered by the [...] Annual Conference. "

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2015 Group of Experts

Palais des Nations, Geneva, 9 and 10 April

The Amended Protocol II Group of Experts will take place on 9 and 10 April 2015. Here is the letter on registration for the Group of Experts.

The mandate of the Group of Experts was decided by the Sixteenth Annual Conference in 2014. The main focus of the 2015 Group of Experts are:

Operation and status of the Protocol

to review the operation and status of the Protocol and consider matters arising from the national annual reports, as well as the development of technologies to protect civilians against indiscriminate effects of mines.

to analyze the implementation by the States parties of their obligation to submit national annual reports and shall study their content, focusing on the information submitted in Form E: “Measures taken on international technical information exchange, on international cooperation on mine clearance, and on technical cooperation and assistance”.

to consider the "Guide to reporting" of Form E in light of developments and progress achieved in the field of mine action since the adoption of the Protocol.

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)

to continue to narrow and sharpen information exchange on national measures and best practices on one or several of the following topics:
(i) prevent the diversion of commercial grade explosives for use in IEDs;
(ii) prevent the diversion of commercially-available detonators and other non- explosive materials of elements from being used in IEDs;
(iii) raising public awareness and/or risk education campaigns; and/or
(iv) enhance voluntary information sharing on detection and counter measures techniques, in light of the significance of the CCW framework, its norms and implementation with respect to the IED threat;

to continue, consistent with the scope of Amended Protocol II, developing best practices aimed at helping to address the diversion or illicit use of materials that can be used for IEDs, including by:
(i) considering a one-time questionnaire, which would be voluntary in nature, on national counter-IED frameworks, which, if agreed by consensus, would be circulated after the Group of Experts meeting with a view to enhancing international cooperation and assistance and strengthening national capacities of High Contracting Parties, including through the establishment of a network of national points of contact; and
(ii) exploring the possibility of an information exchange database, portal or platform as a voluntary tool to improve information sharing, among a network of national and any other agreed points of contact, on the diversion and illicit use of material that can be used for IEDs and other means of reducing the threat of IEDs,
while bearing in mind commercial confidentiality, national security requirements, the legitimate interests in trade of such materials; and taking into account existing and related work of international and regional organisations, including those referred to in the compilation.

COORDINATORS

Mr. David Puzstai of Hungary is Coordinator on the Operation and status of the Protocol; matters arising from reports by the High Contracting Parties according to Article 13 (4) of APII, as well as the development of technologies to protect civilians against indiscriminate effects of mines.

Capt. (Navy) Erwan Roche of France is Coordinator on Improvised Explosive Devices, who is assisted by Mr. Igor Moldovan of the Republic of Moldovaas Co-Coordinator.